SeatGeek is an online ticket marketplace that allows users to buy and sell tickets for sporting events, concerts, theater shows, and other live events. The site aims to provide a safe, convenient way to purchase event tickets, often at discounted prices. However, some users have concerns about whether SeatGeek is a legitimate and secure platform. This article will explore the pros and cons of buying tickets through SeatGeek and provide information on how to safely purchase tickets.
The benefits of using SeatGeek
There are several potential advantages to buying tickets on SeatGeek compared to other secondary ticket marketplaces:
- Access to hard-to-find tickets – SeatGeek compiles inventory from numerous sellers, including season ticket holders looking to sell extra tickets. This means you may be able to find in-demand tickets that are sold out elsewhere.
- Lower prices – With its large inventory, SeatGeek aims to drive down prices through competition between sellers. The site claims users can save up to 60% compared to primary market prices.
- No hidden fees – SeatGeek displays the all-in price upfront so there are no surprise add-on fees at checkout.
- Guaranteed valid tickets – All tickets sold on SeatGeek are guaranteed to be valid for entry. If a ticket has an issue, they will find you comparable or better replacement tickets.
- Refunds – If an event is cancelled and not rescheduled, SeatGeek will automatically refund the purchase. They also may provide refunds for unforeseen personal circumstances.
- Buyer protection – SeatGeek offers buyer protection to safeguard your purchase. If you don’t receive valid tickets in time for the event, they will provide comparable replacement tickets.
SeatGeek aims to provide a reliable, affordable ticket marketplace for fans. The site has rapidly grown in popularity since launching in 2009 and now offers tickets to over 100,000 live events. With SeatGeek’s inventory, pricing model, and buyer guarantees, it can be an appealing option for purchasing event tickets.
Risks of buying from SeatGeek
While SeatGeek provides some useful buyer protection, there are still some risks to be aware of when purchasing tickets:
- Counterfeit or invalid tickets – There is still a risk of receiving fake or invalid tickets, especially from disreputable individual sellers.
- Delays in receiving tickets – If sellers are late in transferring over the tickets, you may not receive them in time for the event.
- Prices not as low as promised – While SeatGeek advertises substantial discounts, some tickets may still be priced near normal secondary market rates.
- Fees not as transparent – Even if SeatGeek doesn’t charge fees itself, it passes along seller, shipping, and other fees that can increase the final cost.
- Cancellations and changes – If an event date, time, or location changes, your original tickets may be rendered invalid.
- Difficulties reselling – If you can’t attend an event you bought tickets for, reselling the tickets yourself on SeatGeek may be challenging.
SeatGeek does not thoroughly vet individual sellers, so you are dealing with third parties at your own risk. Scams and selling invalid tickets unfortunately occur on many secondary ticket sites. While SeatGeek offers buyer protection, recovering your money or getting replacement tickets if issues arise can still be a headache.
Tips for safely buying tickets on SeatGeek
To mitigate the risks when purchasing tickets from SeatGeek, here are some tips:
- Carefully review seller profiles – Check a seller’s rating and number of sales. Higher rated sellers with more transactions tend to be safer.
- Avoid buying from new sellers – Only buy from sellers who have an established history of sales on SeatGeek.
- Use buyer protection – Opt to purchase SeatGeek’s buyer protection at checkout to get refunds if issues arise with tickets.
- Pay with a credit card – In case you need to dispute any fraudulent charges later, pay with a credit card rather than debit card, cash, or wire transfer.
- Download tickets promptly – Download e-tickets to your phone or print hard tickets as soon as they are available to prevent delivery delays.
- Review event policies – Understand the event’s ticket resale policy in case you need to resell tickets you can’t use.
- Confirm details before going – Double check the event date, time, venue, and seat details right before the event to spot any discrepancies.
Taking precautions like checking seller reputations, paying securely, and confirming event details can help minimize risks when buying from SeatGeek. Being an informed buyer is crucial when purchasing tickets on any secondary marketplace.
SeatGeek buyer guarantees and protections
SeatGeek provides the following guarantees and protections for buyers:
Valid tickets guarantee
SeatGeek guarantees that all tickets sold on their marketplace are valid for entry. If a ticket has an invalid barcode or fails to grant you entry, they will work to provide you with comparable replacement tickets for the same event.
Buyer protection
SeatGeek offers an optional buyer protection program at checkout. This provides a refund if:
- You do not receive your tickets in time for the event
- You receive counterfeit or fraudulent tickets
- You are unable to attend an event due to unforeseen covered circumstances like illness or transportation issues.
Buyer protection covers the full price of the tickets, minus shipping costs. You typically need to file a claim within 5 days of the event to be eligible.
Refunds for event cancellations
If an event is cancelled and not rescheduled, SeatGeek automatically refunds the ticket purchase amount. Refunds are generally processed within 3 weeks after the cancellation is confirmed.
SeatGeek’s guarantees help reduce the risks of using their secondary ticket marketplace. However, users should still exercise caution when purchasing tickets.
SeatGeek reviews and reputation
Here is an overview of SeatGeek’s reputation based on customer reviews:
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- SeatGeek has a B+ rating from the BBB.
- The company has closed 137 complaints over the last 3 years, mostly related to problems with products/services.
- SeatGeek responds to most complaints in a timely manner and works to resolve issues based on BBB records.
Trustpilot
- SeatGeek has a “Great” 4.4 out 5 star rating on Trustpilot based on over 22,000 reviews.
- 80% of reviewers rate the service as “Excellent” or “Great.”
- The most common compliments cite good prices, inventory, and customer service.
- Negative reviews mention fake tickets, hidden fees, and poor responses to complaints.
SiteJabber
- SeatGeek has a 4 out of 5 star rating on SiteJabber compiled from over 1,500 reviews.
- 76% of reviewers give the company 5 stars, while 11% award just 1 star.
- Positive reviews praise low prices and good selection of tickets.
- Negative reviews complain about fraudulent tickets and poor customer service.
Based on most third-party review platforms, SeatGeek receives largely positive feedback from customers. They have maintained a strong reputation overall. However, the company still receives some poor reviews related to counterfeit tickets, misleading fees, and difficulty getting assistance with issues.
Common SeatGeek complaints
Some common complaints about SeatGeek based on negative customer reviews include:
Fake or invalid tickets
Some customers report receiving fake, duplicate, or invalid tickets that did not actually grant entry to events. SeatGeek’s guarantees are supposed to address this, but resolving the issues still tends to be inconvenient for affected buyers.
Hidden fees
Reviewers occasionally complain that the final cost was higher than the advertised price due to tacked on shipping, services fees, and other charges. SeatGeek aims to provide fee transparency, but some costs may still get passed on to buyers unexpectedly.
Tickets never received
In some cases, buyers say they paid for event tickets that they never actually received from sellers. SeatGeek claims to intervene in these situations, but obviously late ticket delivery can cause buyers to miss desired events.
Poor customer service
Some unhappy reviewers describe difficulty getting responses and resolution for issues from SeatGeek’s customer support team. Response times can be slow and assistance limited if problems arise.
Refund hassles
A number of complaints cite challenges getting refunds approved when entitled to them for events like cancellations. SeatGeek’s refund policies have exceptions that some feel are used as an excuse to avoid providing refunds.
While not extremely widespread, complaints like these illustrate that buying tickets on SeatGeek is not always a smooth, hassle-free process. Customers need to be aware of the potential risks when making purchases.
Is SeatGeek trustworthy?
Overall, SeatGeek is generally considered a legitimate and trustworthy ticket marketplace. Key factors that support its trustworthiness:
- Well-established company – SeatGeek launched in 2009 and has grown steadily over the past decade.
- Millions of customers – The site has successfully served millions of buyers and sellers without major incidents.
- Positive reputational ratings – SeatGeek earns largely favorable reviews from customers on third-party sites.
- Reasonable pricing structure – Their model typically offers lower prices than primary markets without exorbitant fees.
- Buyer guarantees – SeatGeek’s ticket validity and buyer protection policies help reduce purchase risks.
- Responsive to issues – They aim to address invalid ticket situations, though their customer service responsiveness could improve.
There are certainly some risks like fake tickets and poor service that buyers need to be cautious about. However, these types of issues exist on all major secondary ticket marketplaces. SeatGeek has built a generally positive brand reputation over time and satisfies most customers.
SeatGeek vs. competitors
How does SeatGeek compare against other major secondary ticket sellers? Here is an overview:
SeatGeek vs. StubHub
- Both sites provide a secondary ticket marketplace with discounted pricing.
- StubHub has more brand name recognition given its longer history back to 2000.
- SeatGeek tends to have a larger ticket inventory with more price competition.
- StubHub charges more fees, while SeatGeek includes fees in upfront pricing.
- SeatGeek garners slightly better reputation ratings and customer satisfaction.
SeatGeek vs. Vivid Seats
- Vivid Seats and SeatGeek have similar secondary marketplaces and value pricing.
- Vivid Seats specializes more in sports and concert tickets, while SeatGeek has broader event inventory.
- SeatGeek provides a more modern, user-friendly booking experience than Vivid Seats.
- SeatGeek tends to offer greater price transparency without as many tacked on fees.
- Both sites have very comparable reputations, customer satisfaction levels, and buyer protections.
SeatGeek vs. TicketNetwork
- TicketNetwork also aggregates inventory from many ticket sellers into an online marketplace.
- SeatGeek has a cleaner, more intuitive interface and booking process than TicketNetwork.
- SeatGeek usually provides greater price transparency upfront.
- TicketNetwork caters a bit more to season ticket holders looking to resell tickets.
- SeatGeek offers a more modern mobile experience and quicker access to e-tickets.
Compared to major competitors, SeatGeek holds up quite well in areas like pricing, inventory, and buyer experience. Unique aspects of SeatGeek include its low-fee guarantee and faster digital ticket delivery. SeatGeek’s combination of value, selection, and service make it one of the top secondary ticket marketplaces.
Conclusion
In summary, there are good reasons for ticket buyers to feel comfortable using SeatGeek, though some precautions are necessary:
- SeatGeek provides a legitimate secondary ticket marketplace that grants access to hard-to-find event tickets.
- The site’s pricing model, seller competition, and fee transparency help drive deals for buyers.
- Guarantees and protections reduce, but don’t eliminate, the risks from counterfeit tickets and other purchase issues.
- Reviews indicate most customers have positive experiences buying tickets through SeatGeek.
- Some complaints do occur related to fake tickets, hidden fees, delays, and poor support.
- Being an informed shopper, checking seller profiles, and understanding policies can maximize your safety on SeatGeek.
SeatGeek is reasonably trustworthy and convenient for purchasing discounted event tickets online. Buyers simply need to be cautious of some of the typical risks that exist when buying from unverified third-party sellers. While not flawless, SeatGeek remains one of the better options for scoring deals on highly demanded tickets. With the right precautions, fans can confidently use the marketplace to access amazing events without breaking the bank.